HC's loss of Pearl is Harvard hockey's gain

Friday

May 16, 2014 at 9:22 PMMay 17, 2014 at 12:07 AM

By Jennifer Toland

During his four-year playing career and for 19 seasons as head coach, Paul Pearl represented the Holy Cross men's ice hockey program with class and charisma. His loyalty to his alma mater and his love for his teams was undeniable, and eight years ago when the Crusaders beat Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament, he deservedly became part of one of the greatest moments in Holy Cross sports history.

After dedicating almost half of his life to Holy Cross, the 47-year-old Pearl decided this week he was ready for a different challenge.

Pearl is leaving Holy Cross to become the associate head coach on Ted Donato's Harvard staff. Pearl resigned his HC position Friday morning.

"I've had an unbelievable run at Holy Cross, and I loved every minute of it," Pearl said. "Now is the time for me to try something new."

Pearl has known Donato, who won an NCAA championship with Harvard as a player and just completed his 10th season as the Crimson coach, for years. A spot on the Crimson staff became available when assistant Albie O'Connell left to join the Boston University staff earlier this month.

"It's a great opportunity for me and my family," Pearl said. "There's a chance to win a national championship there every year. It's a great opportunity to be part of it all."

Pearl and his wife, Karen, and their children, Robert and Katheryn, live in Wakefield.

Harvard went 10-17-4 last season and lost to Yale in the first round of the ECAC Championship. Harvard has not won more than 13 games since 2007-08 (17-13-4), but there are some exciting things going on around the program with the major expansion and renovation of the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.

Pearl came up three wins shy of 300 at Holy Cross. He guided the Crusaders to two Atlantic Hockey Association championships and one MAAC title. HC made its two NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2006) under Pearl. The Crusaders upset Minnesota and Phil Kessel, 4-3, in overtime in the first round of the 2006 NCAAs.

"I am saddened to see Coach Pearl go, as he has been a big part of this great institution both as a student-athlete and a coach," Holy Cross director of athletics Nate Pine said. "But we support Paul and his family in this decision, and we wish him continued success. The foundation that he has laid at Holy Cross positions us very well as we begin our national search for his successor to continue the advancement of Holy Cross hockey."

The search for Pearl's replacement will begin immediately.

While becoming the program's winningest coach, Pearl overcame numerous challenges, including recruiting (scholarships were added in 2009) and a home rink in need of updating. Still, in his quest to earn Holy Cross respect as a Division 1 program, he brought in solid talent and outstanding young men and strengthened HC's out-of-league schedule.

Last year, the Crusaders beat eventual national champion Yale, and this season they defeated Boston College, which advanced to the Frozen Four. Also this winter, Holy Cross played Bentley at Fenway Park.

The Crusaders struggled to a 14-22-3 mark this season. In 2011-12 and 2012-13, HC posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time. The Crusaders earned a No. 20 national ranking during the 2012-13 season.

Pearl was a two-time Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year (2004, 2011), the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2002, and the New England Hockey Writers' Association and ECAC East Coach of the Year in 1998. The 2005-06 HC team won a school-record 27 games.

Pearl almost left Holy Cross in the summer of 2003. He accepted Milton Academy's offer to become director of admissions and hockey coach, but had a change of heart less than a week later and decided to stay at HC. He went on to lead HC to its first NCAA appearance that season.

Two years ago, Pearl turned down an offer to become the head coach at UMass.

Pearl, a 1989 Holy Cross graduate, was a four-year letter winner in hockey and baseball. He coached the HC baseball team from 1999-2001. Pearl previously served as an assistant hockey coach at Brown and UConn.

"I'm not just the former Holy Cross coach," Pearl said. "I'm a proud alum. I want to see continued success for the program."

Contact Jennifer Toland at jtoland@telegram.com.Follow her on Twitter @JenTandG.